BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The world's largest federation of press unions on Thursday blasted the Hamas government's week-long crackdown on the media in Gaza and called for the release of six journalists.

The International Federation of Journalists accused the security forces in Gaza of launching a major crackdown on the media and particularly members of its local affiliate, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate.

"The climate of sheer brutality and ruthless intimidation targeting media in Gaza has again shown that Hamas is no friend of press freedom," said IFJ president Jim Boumelha, in a statement.

"These journalists are being held with no charges against them while their families and colleagues live in fear of raids and arrests. They should be released immediately and their families left in peace."

The syndicate added that Hamas forces first detained members of Abu Shoumer's family as a means of pressuring his surrender to the security forces.

Hamas has repeatedly targeted the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate in the years since taking power in 2007, and has sought to replace its membership with Hamas-affiliated media.

In his statement Thursday, the IFJ president said he fully backed the syndicate.

"We commend our colleagues in Gaza for opposing any attempt to dice and create divisions among journalists," Boumelha said, adding that the syndicate had "our unwavering support."

The IFJ's protest followed criticism from Palestinian rights and media freedom groups.

'Those persons are not journalists'

On Wednesday, the Hamas government flatly denied arresting any journalists, a Ma'an correspondent said after a meeting with interior ministry officials in Gaza City.

Ministry spokesman Islam Shahwan said the authorities guaranteed freedom of the press, and went on to claim that recent detainees were charged with recognizable offenses.

Shahwan also insisted the detainees had admitted to the unspecified charges, the reporter said.

A statement from the interior ministry said that "The summons of a number of persons with different jobs was to question them on certain issues that threaten the security of the community."

It added: "Those persons are not journalists at all. Even those who work as journalists use this field as a cover to carry out suspicious acts."

The journalists are employees of al-Katab satellite channel, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, the websites Fatah Youth and Aswar press, and al-Hurriya radio as well as other news outlets.

1 ) Brian Cohen / Israel

24/01/2013 23:24

Strange that you don't see any of the world-wide supposed supporters of Palestinian rights protesting here with their comments.
Where is Colin Wright, Shirley, Gabi, Mel?
Don't you care about civil and human rights abuses on Palestinians? Or is it only when you think that Israel is doing it that you jump up and down and scream for justice?
Well...start screaming up and down! Palestinians in Gaza need your help to save them from Hamas.
You are doing nothing, as usual.

2 ) Ali Hamdan / palestine

24/01/2013 23:56

Ramallah-23 January 2013- The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) denounces the recent violations against journalists in the Gaza Strip, ranging from arrest and summons to assault, during 21st and 22nd January 2013.
Internal security personnel in the Gaza Strip arrested four journalists: Executive Director of the Journalists’ Syndicate Munir Almunirawi, reporter for Sawt Alhureyya Juma’ Abu Shumer, Chief Editor in Palestinian Media Group Mustafa Al-Miqdad and freelam

3 ) River Phoenix / USA

25/01/2013 01:51

It's for security precautions. No one is being beaten or being mistreated. Hamas is serious about their security as they should be due to all that has happened in the past. Islamic Jihad also condones this actions & so do I. I say 'good job'.

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